RABBITTOWN — Joe Dix said it was going to be a war.
It was that and then some, as East Hall pulled out a thrilling 76-73, double-overtime win over North Hall Tuesday in the semifinals of the Lanierland Tournament at the East Hall gym.
“It always is between these two teams,” the East Hall coach said. “That was one of the best games in the history of this tournament. Every time someone punched, the other countered. Just a tremendous game by two good teams.”
The two teams’ went back-and-forth over the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and in both overtimes before the Vikings (9-3) got a 3-pointer from Luke Cooper to open the second overtime to spark a quick 6-2 run and a 72-68 lead with 1:35 left. East Hall never trailed again.
North Hall pulled within 72-70 on a Evan Easton basket with just over one minute left but the Vikings looked to put things away with a 4-1 run for a 76-71 lead with 24 seconds left.
However, the Trojans closed to within 76-73 on a Whit Powell shot with 4 seconds left and then got a steal on the inbounds pass. Sam Jackson picked up the loose ball and his 70-foot launch at the basket went through the net at the buzzer. But, the Trojans had called timeout with 2.4 seconds left nullifying the game-tying shot.
The Trojans ensuing game-tying 3-point attempt after the timeout fell short sealing the win for East Hall.
“It was great shot but we had called timeout,” North Hall coach Tyler Sanders. “You don’t expect something like that. We had a good play on the inbounds but it didn’t go in. It was a great game and the kids on both sides made some big plays. They just made a couple more than we did.”
North Hall looked poised to seize the win in the fourth quarter using a 13-0 run to erase a 47-40 deficit for a 53-47 lead with with just over three minutes left. But free throws would be the Trojans undoing.
East Hall chipped away while North Hall went just 5-of-12 from the line in the fourth quarter. The Trojans missed five in the final 54 seconds and East Hall’s Tylor Brown tied the game at 56 with 30 seconds left that eventually sent it to overtime.
“We missed too many free throws and that was probably the difference,” Sanders said. North Hall was just 13-of-26 from the line for the game.
In the first overtime the lead changed hands four times. Harrison Harper gave North Hall a 59-56 lead on a 3-pointer but Markese Jackson reclaimed the lead at 63-60 for East Hall on a 3-pointer with 2:14 left. Easton got the lead back at 64-63 for North Hall with a steal and a dunk but Luke Cooper answered with a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:01 left for a 66-64 lead. Carson Heinen tied the game at 66 for North Hall with 42 seconds left and both teams missed a pair of shots in final seconds to win it.
Dix, whose Vikings will take on the Flowery Branch-West Hall winner on Wednesday in the finals at 7:30 p.m., said he’s not sure how much they have left.
“We’ve had two tough games in two days. Hopefully we have something left but this was such a physical, emotional game. We’ll see tomorrow,” Dix said.
North Hall led 16-13 after the first quarter but the Vikings rallied to tie the game at 30 by halftime. East Hall pulled away for a 45-40 lead to end the third quarter and built the biggest lead of the game, 47-40, early in the fourth quarter on a pair of Amir Ellison free throws.
Jackson led East Hall with 18 points. Brown finished with 17, Luke Cooper added 15, 10 coming in the fourth quarter and overtimes, and Andy Lara had 11, all coming after halftime and including three 3-pointers for the Vikings.
Heinen finished with a game-high 20 points to pace North Hall. Easton added 15 points, Harper had 11, and Jake Meeler had nine for the Trojans, who will play the loser of the Flowery Branch-West Hall game Wednesday in the third place game at 4:30 p.m..
FLOWERY BRANCH 59
WEST HALL 48
Trey Bailey blocked three of his six shots early to set the tone and helped lead the Falcons to the win and their first trip to the finals since 2008.
The Falcons (7-5) trailed just once, 6-5, in the first quarter and used a 7-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to take a 17-10 lead they would not relinquish.
“Trey has been a monster for us on the boards and defensively,” Flowery Branch coach David Sokol said. “The whole team played a good game tonight.”
Flowery Branch has never won the Lanierland title in its 15-year history and will take on Lanierland stalwart East Hall in the 7:30 p.m. finals on Wednesday on the Vikings home floor.
“What a great opportunity for these kids,” Sokol said. “East Hall is always tough and I’m sure it’s going to be a tremendous battle.”
The Falcons will have the height advantage over the Vikings in the finals, and it played a big role Tuesday against West Hall (5-6). Bailey thwarted several early shots and his presence inside altered several Spartan attempts.
Dalton Gerdts started things off for the Falcons with a 3-pointer to open the game but West Hall’s Dylan Barron gave the Spartans their only lead on a basket with 3:15 left in the first quarter. Esteban Ortiz capped the Falcons 7-0 run with a basket off a feed from Patsheko Lutumba for a 17-10 lead early in the second quarter. Flowery Branch took a 24-17 lead into halftime.
West Hall trimmed the Falcons lead to 25-20 early in the third quarter but John Mills’s 3-pointer to cap 10-2 run pushed Flowery Branch’s lead to 32-22. The Spartans would not get closer than nine, at 55-46 with 29 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Xzavier Reid. But Reid was also called for a technical foul on the play and Mills hit both free throws to essentially snuff out any potential West Hall rally.
“These guys are learning how to play together,” Sokol said. “Our goal is just to keep improving.”
Gabe Holston paced Flowery Branch with 15 points. Gerdts finished with 12, Mills 10, Brannon Clark with eight, and Bailey finished with seven points and five rebounds to go with his six blocks for the Falcons.
Dylan Curry led West Hall with 13 points. Reid finished with 11 and Esteban Ulloa and Tyquan Statham each had 11 for the Spartans.
West Hall will play North Hall at 4:30 p.m. in the third place game Wednesday.
JOHNSON 72
CHESTATEE 58
Andrew Sims had a season-high 17 points to lead the Knights to a consolation bracket victory Tuesday at the East Hall gym.
It was tight game early as Johnson (4-8) led just 13-10 after the first quarter. But the Knights exploded for a 25-point second quarter to pull away for a 38-20 halftime lead.
Chestatee (0-10) cut the lead to 13 twice in the third quarter but trailed 54-37 heading into the final period.
Ahmad Harrison added 15 points and Yaz Hagins had 12 for Johnson. Kylin Curry and Quay Butler each had nine points for the Knights.
Chestatee was paced by Donovan Hernandez with 17 points. Gavin Gunter added 15 points and Cooper Wilson had 11 for the War Eagles.
Johnson next will take on Lakeview Academy at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at East Hall in the fifth place game. Chestatee’s tournament is done and will finish seventh.
2015 LANIERLAND TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Dec. 29 at East Hall High, Second Round
Semifinals
Flowery Branch girls 66, North Hall 34
East Hall boys 76, North Hall 73 2OT
East Hall girls 44, Gainesville 41
Flowery Branch boys 59, West Hall 48
Consolation bracket
Lakeview Academy girls 77, West Hall 54
Chestatee girls 42, Johnson 26
Johnson boys 72, Chestatee 58
Wednesday, Dec. 30 at East Hall High, Third Round
FINALS
East Hall girls vs. Flowery Branch, 6 p.m.
East Hall boys vs. Flowery Branch, 7:30 p.m.
Consolation bracket
West Hall girls vs. Johnson, 10:30 a.m. -- 7th place game
Lakeview Academy girls vs. Chestatee, noon -- 5th place game
Lakeview Academy boys vs. Johnson, 1:30 p.m. -- 5th place game
Gainesville girls vs. North Hall, 3 p.m. -- 3rd place game
North Hall boys vs. West Hall, 4:30 p.m. -- 3rd place game
